Accomplishments and challenges for Quinte Healthcare

The Chair of Quinte Health Care’s Board of Directors quoted a famous American author of children’s books in his address at the organization’s Annual General Meeting Tuesday.

Commenting on the never ending financial and patient volume challenges facing the health care field Stuart Wright quoted Dr. Seuss, saying “unless someone like you cares an awful lot nothing is going to get better. Nothing”.

Wright said overseeing a multi-site operation like QHC, with four separate hospitals, was no easy task but the board and management always keep the number one priority top of mind which is to try and provide safe, quality healthcare at each location.

Retiring QHC board member and former Chair David MacKinnon(left) receives praise from current Chair Stuart Wright. Also leaving the board is Jessica Anderrson who wasn’t present at Tuesday’s meeting.(Photo/John Spitters/Quinte News)

Wright said he and others had worked hard in the past year communicating to and receiving feedback from QHC staff and stakeholders in the wider community.

Wright congratulated the hospital foundations for their critical work raising money for new medical equipment and had high praise for the hundreds of auxiliary volunteers that work thousands of hours making the patient experience better seven days a week.

He went on to thank QHC’s staff for their hard work and dedication. “The recent fire on Quinte 5 Medical Unit displayed in full the skills, capabilities and dedication our staff has, not to mention the heart.”

Quinte Health Care ended the fiscal year with a small surplus of $127,000.

Incoming board members Lisa O’Toole and John Kearns.(Photo/John Spitters/Quinte News)

The AGM also saw some board members leaving with others joining for the coming year(s). Leaving the board of directors are Doug McGregor and Jessica Anderson.

New members will be John Kearns and Lisa O’Toole.

Other members of the board serving for the coming year will be Brenda Pergantes, David MacKinnon, Patrick Johnston, Peggy Payne, Kim Woodhouse, Stuart Wright, Peter Dudding, Greg Parker and Lynda Mungall.

QHC board member Brenda Pergantes bids farewell to the Senior Director of Governance and Strategy Paul McAuley farewell. McAuley was praised for his knowledge and his teaching abilities. He is taking a position as CEO of 3SO, the shared support services organization owned by the South East Ontario Hospitals.(Photo/John Spitters/Quinte News)